THE RIGHT-HANDER JEREMY GUTHRIE WAS TRADED FROM THE ORIOLES FOR JASON HAMMEL AND MATT LINDSTROM

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:56 PM EST

The Colorado Rockies acquired veteran right-hander Jeremy Guthrie from the Baltimore Orioles, a progress that bolsters their young rotation. Baseball betting lines

In return, the Rockies sent reliever Matt Lindstrom and right-hander Jason Hammel to the Baltimore Orioles.

The contract for Guthrie, the Orioles’ Opening Day starter was 3 of the past 4 seasons. Guthrie lost 17 games last season, the most in the American League, and finished with a 4.33 Time for a team which has lost 90 or more games in 6 straight seasons competing with the AL East’s big-spending heavyweights.

Guthrie, who turns 33 year old in April, agreed to a 1 year, $8.2 million contract with the Rockies, avoiding a settlement hearing. He’s eligible to become a free agent after the season.

Guthrie said that he was surprised to hear that he’d been dealt, he announced.

“This past month, month and a half, I was trying to focus on resolving my contract and preparing the argument for it. So I believe it’s a gigantic amazement,” he revealed. The timing isn’t what anybody, me included, would definitely have anticipated. There are times when trades occur more often, and this wasn’t one I was ready for.”

Guthrie’s agent, Brodie Wagon Wagenen, asserted it had seemed likely the pitcher’s agreement would head off to settlement.

Given that Guthrie was free to bolt after this season, Baltimore Orioles executive vice chairman Dan Duquette felt it was just the appropriate time to make a progress. Odds

Guthrie, pitching the past 5 seasons for Baltimore Orioles groups that finished in or near the American League East basement, has a 47-65 career record with a 4.19 ERA over eight seasons with the Orioles and Cleveland Indians.

The purchase of Guthrie gives the Rockies extra experienced arm in their rotation, particularly with lefty Jorge De La Rosa still mending after elbow surgery that sidelined him last season.

Guthrie will be in the mix to start on Opening Day together with hard-throwing righty Jhoulys Chacin, the ace of the staff last season. Chacin is a part of the Rockies’ young stable of arms, which also may also includes Drew Pomeranz and Alex White, who were acquired in the offer last summer that sent Ubaldo Jimenez to the Indians.

The presence of Guthrie may also save some wear on the bullpen, given that he is logged at least 200 innings for the Baltimore Orioles in each one of the past 3 seasons.

Guthrie claimed he’s anticipating pitching for a Rockies team that has been in the heart of the National League playoff race in recent seasons.

“That’s the most exciting part for me, that is the silver lining in leaving a city and team I actually love,” he revealed. “It gives me a chance to go somewhere where you’ve got a chance to compete this year, and I hope to be a very important part of that. Hopefully, I will be able to be a part of meaningful games across the season. It’s a chance I am truly thankful for.”

He is also forecasting a new challenge in advancing from Camden Yards, where real-estate is expensive, to Coors Field, where the thinner air at Denver’s Mile High altitude has traditionally bedeviled pitchers.

“It’s a real challenge, but anywhere you pitch is a challenge. Camden Yards certainly can be hard, when you think about all the top players that come through,” Guthrie said, according to The Sun. “I have to be down in the strike section, but that’s what I need to do irrespective of where I am pitching.”

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